New genetic links to same-sex sexuality found in huge study

The largest study of its kind found new evidence that genes contribute to same-sex sexual behavior, but it echoes research that says there are no specific genes that make people gay.

The genome-wide research on DNA from nearly half a million U.S. and UK adults identified five genetic variants not previously linked with gay or lesbian sexuality. The variants were more common in people who reported ever having had a same-sex sexual partner. That includes people whose partners were exclusively of the same sex and those who mostly reported heterosexual behavior.

The researchers said thousands more genetic variants likely are involved and interact with factors that aren't inherited, but that none of them cause the behavior nor can predict whether someone will be gay.

The research "provides the clearest glimpse yet into the genetic underpinnings of same-sex sexual behavior," said co-author Benjamin Neale, a psychiatric geneticist at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"We also found that it's effectively impossible to predict an individual's sexual behavior from their genome. Genetics is less than half of this story for sexual behavior but it's still a very important contributing factor," Neale said.

The study was released by the journal Science. Results are based on genetic testing and survey responses.

Some of the genetic variants found were present in both men and women. Two in men were located near genes involved in male-pattern baldness and sense of smell, raising intriguing questions about how regulation of sex hormones and smell may influence same-sex behavior.

Importantly, most participants were asked about frequency of same-sex sexual behavior but not if they self-identified as gay or lesbian. Fewer than 5% of UK participants and about 19% of U.S. participants reported ever having a same-sex sexual experience.

The researchers acknowledged that limitation and emphasized that the study's focus was on behavior, not sexual identity or orientation. They also note that the study only involved people of European ancestry and can't answer whether similar results would be found in other groups.

Origins of same-sex behavior are uncertain. Some of the strongest evidence of a genetic link comes from studies in identical twins. Many scientists believe that social, cultural, family and other biological factors are also involved, while some religious groups and skeptics consider it a choice or behavior that can be changed.

A Science commentary notes that the five identified variants had such a weak effect on behavior that using the results "for prediction, intervention or a supposed 'cure' is wholly and unreservedly impossible."

"Future work should investigate how genetic predispositions are altered by environmental factors," University of Oxford sociologist Melinda Mills said in the commentary.

Other experts not involved in the study had varied reactions.

Dr Kenneth Kendler a specialist in psychiatric genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University, called it "a very important paper that advances the study of the genetics of human sexual preference substantially. The results are broadly consistent with those obtained from the earlier technologies of twin and family studies suggesting that sexual orientation runs in families and is moderately heritable."

Former National Institutes of Health geneticist Dean Hamer said the study confirms "that sexuality is complex and there are a lot of genes involved," but it isn't really about gay people. "Having just a single same sex experience is completely different than actually being gay or lesbian," Hamer said. His research in the 1990s linked a marker on the X chromosome with male homosexuality. Some subsequent studies had similar results but the new one found no such link.

Doug Vanderlaan, a University of Toronto psychologist who studies sexual orientation, said the absence of information on sexual orientation is a drawback and makes it unclear what the identified genetic links might signify. They "might be links to other traits, like openness to experience," Vanderlaan said.

The study was a collaboration among scientists including psychologists, sociologists and statisticians from the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. They did entire human genome scanning, using blood samples from the UK Biobank and saliva samples from customers of the U.S.-based ancestry and biotech company 23andMe who had agreed to participate in research.

Sep. 2
07:42 am JST

Sep. 2
09:47 am JST

Sep. 2
10:23 am JST

how would any "gay" genes survive the process of natural selection?

One leading theory is the kin selection hypothesis (or the "gay uncle theory"). In a nutshell, childless gay uncles usually invest in the children of siblings or relatives. Their genetic similarity means that the children are probably latent carriers of whatever genes led to homosexual behavior in the uncle. The additional resources from the uncle (money, property, knowledge, social connections, so on) boosts the child's chances of finding a mate and successfully reproducing. It allows the uncle's genes to be carried into the future where they might get expressed again in maybe 4 or 5 generations. Genes and behaviors that might seem like complete evolutionary dead ends on an individual level can still be selected for if they're beneficial on a group level.

Sep. 2
11:32 am JST

Sep. 2
01:05 pm JST

Err... If the Darwinian model is correct, how would any "gay" genes survive the process of natural selection?

Imo a substantial number of so called heteros are actually closeted gay, lesbian, bisexual ppl who were either 'forced' into hetero relationships (social pressure, culture, convenience etc) or just never explored their sexuality.

Had a gay workmate who was always going on/bragging about picking up straight/married men in bars, clubs etc.

Sep. 2
01:20 pm JST

Well, if they can't find a link, maybe there isn't one?

Surely it's a behavioural issue. I know people who used to be gay but are no longer interested, people who developed an interest in same sex relationships and others who have no particular preference. It's not necessarily that someone is born that way.

Sep. 2
03:03 pm JST

Err... If the Darwinian model is correct, how would any "gay" genes survive the process of natural selection?

Rape.....But seriously, up until humans began form communities based on pair bonding, it could be guessed that sex was used as a form of currency or show of dominance like with monkeys and apes. There wouldn't really be a need to have a preference for a partner or need to have a single partner in this environment. Kids born out of this environment were also likely part side-effect of times part way to display dominance. This is all just a guess.

Sep. 2
07:33 pm JST

@Jimizo

This article does not prove what you want to believe

This article proves that there is no proof that gays have a genetic predisposition to be gay.

The onus is not on me or anyone else to believe or prove anything. The onus is on gay activists, and media and medical professional puppets to prove THEIR beliefs (lies) which they've used to coerce and bully the public into agreeing to gay marriage.

They've fallen flat on thier faces and exposed themselves for the bullying liars they are.

Sep. 2
07:40 pm JST

@Strangerland

Sigh.

No, that cannot be logically concluded from this report.

...or at least from this article.

The open and honest minded public, and those brave enough to openly dissent, conclude that the 'born gay' lie (as proven by the research quoted in this article) is as believable as the 'transgender woman' is somehow as female as a genuine biological female lie. Both absolute lies not based on science in the least.

Ps: I have nothing against the LGBTQ community at all and they have my love and respect. But I won't be bullied into believing lies. No one should.

Sep. 2
08:00 pm JST

The researchers said thousands more genetic variants likely are involved.......none of them cause the behavior nor can predict whether someone will be gay.

We also found that it's effectively impossible to predict an individual's sexual behavior from their genome.

Origins of same-sex behavior are uncertain.

Doug Vanderlaan, a University of Toronto psychologist who studies sexual orientation, said the absence of information on sexual orientation is a drawback and makes it unclear what the identified genetic links might signify.

His research in the 1990s linked a marker on the X chromosome with male homosexuality. Some subsequent studies had similar results but the new one found no such link.

If they found a 'gay' gene they would have been shouting it from the rooftops.

Sep. 2
09:39 pm JST

> Genetics is less than half this story for sexual behavior but it’s still a very important contributing factor

What do I think?-Nothing. It proves nothing.

As I said earlier......

The onus is not on me or anyone else to believe or prove anything. The onus is on gay activists, and media and medical professional puppets to prove THEIR beliefs (lies) which they've used to coerce and bully the public into agreeing to gay marriage.

They've fallen flat on thier faces and exposed themselves for the bullying liars they are.

Sep. 2
10:27 pm JST

Limitations:

The researchers acknowledged that limitation and emphasized that the study's focus was on behavior, not sexual identity or orientation. They also note that the study only involved people of European ancestry and can't answer whether similar results would be found in other groups.

Reactions:

Dr Kenneth Kendler a specialist in psychiatric genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University, called it "a very important paper that advances the study of the genetics of human sexual preference substantially. The results are broadly consistent with those obtained from the earlier technologies of twin and family studies suggesting that sexual orientation runs in families and is moderately heritable."

Former National Institutes of Health geneticist Dean Hamer said the study confirms "that sexuality is complex and there are a lot of genes involved," but it isn't really about gay people. "Having just a single same sex experience is completely different than actually being gay or lesbian," Hamer said. His research in the 1990s linked a marker on the X chromosome with male homosexuality. Some subsequent studies had similar results but the new one found no such link.

Doug Vanderlaan, a University of Toronto psychologist who studies sexual orientation, said the absence of information on sexual orientation is a drawback and makes it unclear what the identified genetic links might signify. They "might be links to other traits, like openness to experience," Vanderlaan said.

One interesting unexplained statistic from the original source (Ganna et al) is that there are approx 5 times males than females identifying as homosexual.

Conclusion: “Our results overwhelmingly point toward the richness and diversity of human sexuality. … not toward a role for discrimination on the basis of sexual identity or attraction, nor do our results make any conclusive statements about the degree to which ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ influence sexual preference.”

A caveat common to most genetic discoveries is that the study of Ganna et al. includes only European-ancestry populations from Western high-income countries (United Kingdom, United States, and Sweden for replication). The data also come from older individuals living under stricter social norms and legislative regulations (23andMe, mean age 51.3 years; UK Biobank, aged 40 to 69 years), overrepresented by higher socioeconomic status groups.

Sep. 3
08:52 am JST

Misleading title trying, once again, to shove lies down people's throats... just because you repeat a lie over and over again doesn't make it true.

The bullying comes from the LGBTQ community by attacking and calling anyone who doesn't agree with them a bigot. Everyone deserves respect and equal treatment, but a lie is still a lie... there is no genetic link that determines that someone is gay.

Sep. 3
09:29 am JST

I was trying to work out what the I and A stood for. Is it "I don't know" and "Anything", "Animals", or "Anyone"?

I suppose that would be LGBTQIAA.

From a marketing point of view, acronyms suck if no one knows what they mean, and especially if you keep changing them.

I mean, what's the difference between a Gay and a Queer? And if you have Gays and Queers, what about the Queens and Fairies? Why not Dykes and Lesbians? And did no one ask the Bears and the Furries to the party?

Everyone loves Furries.

Ah, Intersex and Asexual? How can an asexuals be *sexuals and are they different from celibates?

And don't forget the Twin Souls, I suppose they'll soon be claiming they are discriminated against because they can't list themselves as whichever two genders they are.

Sep. 3
10:02 am JST

CurtToday 08:52 am JST

Misleading title trying, once again, to shove lies down people's throats... just because you repeat a lie over and over again doesn't make it true.

The bullying comes from the LGBTQ community by attacking and calling anyone who doesn't agree with them a bigot. Everyone deserves respect and equal treatment, but a lie is still a lie... there is no genetic link that determines that someone is gay.

The point is not that there is no gene that determines whether someone will be gay. The point is that it doesn't matter, because gay people should be afforded all the same rights that everyone else has regardless of the fact that they are gay.

If you disagree with this, then yes - you are, by definition of the word, a bigot - that is, a person who is intolerant towards people due to personal differences. The words "homophobe" and "prejudiced" would also be accurate. Take your pick.

Sep. 3
10:04 am JST

acificwestToday 09:29 am JST

I mean, what's the difference between a Gay and a Queer? And if you have Gays and Queers, what about the Queens and Fairies? Why not Dykes and Lesbians? And did no one ask the Bears and the Furries to the party?

Everyone loves Furries.

Ah, Intersex and Asexual? How can an asexuals be *sexuals and are they different from celibates?

And don't forget the Twin Souls, I suppose they'll soon be claiming they are discriminated against because they can't list themselves as whichever two genders they are.

Sep. 3
10:29 am JST

@girl_in_tokyo

No one has to prove anything to you in order to be given the same rights that you have.

I agree with you. All people should enjoy the same rights.

My point is that the research quoted in this article proves that there is no 'gay gene'. Thus gays are not born that way, contrary to what we've been told, a lie which was and is leveraged to bully the populace into agreeing to same sex marriage.

Sep. 3
10:44 am JST

There's nothing wrong with being gay, bi etc. It's perfectly natural. Those who seek to demonize and dismiss, well, it says more about them than it does us.

Including the debacle when NAMBLA start to wangle their way in the movement internationally, and demand equal rights to have their sexuality accepted and equal rights, which would have required a P added too.

Sep. 3
03:51 pm JST

Concerned CitizenToday 10:29 am JST

@girl_in_tokyo

No one has to prove anything to you in order to be given the same rights that you have.

I agree with you. All people should enjoy the same rights.

My point is that the research quoted in this article proves that there is no 'gay gene'. Thus gays are not born that way, contrary to what we've been told, a lie which was and is leveraged to bully the populace into agreeing to same sex marriage.

First, GLBTQIA activists have not claimed there is a gay gene - the claim has always been that there is a genetic component to sexual preference, which is what this study and other studies have indicated. Even more importantly, the genetic component to sexuality has always been the least important argument for GLBTQIA rights. The main argument is, and always has been, that human rights are inherent to being human. Sexuality, race, religion, nation origin, etc. are all irrelevant.

Second, people certainly are "born gay" in that human sexuality is fluid. In other words, people do not suddenly go from straight to gay, or from gay to straight. The science tells us that sexuality is a spectrum, so people can range from completely straight to completely same-sex attracted. That some people come out later in life is not an argument for people "turning gay". It only shows that some poeple don't explore the entirety of their sexual selves until later in life. This happens for a variety of reasons, particularly homophobia and sexual repression.

Third, no one was tricked into supporting same-sex marriage. Since no one ever claimed there was a gay gene in the first place there was no lie involved. If someone only supported same-sex marriage because they believed there was a gay gene, then that person was never a true supporter in the first place, since human rights should not hinge on why someone is gay - they should support same-sex marriage because marriage is a human right for all humans regardless of their sexuality. If you feel personally tricked, then I'd say it's because you neglected to understand that.